Project by

About this project

You've already been funded at your original goal, so why are you going for $8,500 now?

We're in the home stretch now and I want to make sure this stretch goal is really, really clear. Over the course of this three week project, I've discovered great demand for Sunday Morning Pancake Mix and for it's obvious sister product, a gluten-free version. The extra $3,500 is for a true, commercial mill. Not only will this increase my output capacity by leaps and bounds, but it will allow me to use my smaller (still wonderful and capable mill) strictly for gluten-free pancake mix. The gluten-free version will be available to all backers, but they may have to wait a few extra weeks for their reward.

Sunday Morning Pancake Mix is a project born out of our family's real life. My kids and I look forward to every Sunday morning, when my husband makes pancakes. The desire to turn our family tradition in a healthy direction led us to experiment with whole grain flours and then actually grinding whole grains in our old, one-cup coffee grinder. We finally landed on an amazing recipe where we home-grind wheat berries, rye, buckwheat, barley, brown rice, oats, and spelt and combine them with commercially coarse-ground cornmeal and flax for just the right texture. We've turned what once was a breakfast filled with over-processed empty calories into a wholesome, nutritious meal that is still easy to prepare and fun for us all.

Short stack.

Last Christmas, some MOM friends of mine were having a holiday gift bazaar and since they are always asking about my various recipes, I thought maybe I could sell some food products and make a little Christmas cash. Voila! I sold out of every product and went from everyone's "Friend Who Loves to Cook" to a mom-chef with a viable business venture.

Original gift packaging

Six months after that first commercial venture, I have customers constantly asking for refills of my eight-grain pancake mix and new folks hearing about it by word of mouth. I went from tediously grinding one cup of grain in a coffee grinder to investing in a real mill. I've crunched the numbers and now know it is time to make this venture official and scale it up.

As I say in the video, Kickstarter is my kind of venture capitalism. It is a place where a good idea with a capable mom behind it can find the funding to make a small-scale dream come true. Kickstarter funds will allow me to buy commercial grade equipment for my kitchen, get all the necessary permits, pay market fees and most importantly, pay for my initial orders of letterpress fabric bags and whole grains!

The packaging concept is now a fabric bag that will have a funky letterpress design - preliminary sketches coming soon.

A huge part of my motivation for this business is in being a positive force in my local food system. All the grains I buy are going to be certified organic. As I develop relationships with farmers in the area that can supply the quality and quantity of grains I need, I will buy a higher and higher percentage locally.

This business plan has a lot to do with building community as well, so my primary distribution method is going to be through direct sales at farmer's markets and festivals. I'm also working on distributing through local shops and partnering with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) distributor.

Even my label design supports local business: a neighborhood mom friend who has a letterpress company is already working on our packaging and a limited edition poster for me to use at markets and rewards for kickstarter investors. http://www.sawtoothprinthouse.com

By investing in this project you can be a positive force in the food system too and get in on the ground level with the healthiest, most incredible pancakes you have ever tasted.

You should know:

Kickstarter funding is all or nothing. This means if I don't meet my target, I won't get any of the funds. Any investments over and above the original goal will go towards stretch goals outlined below.

Every penny counts, so any level of support is worth it and will bring me one step closer to making this project a reality.

Kickstarter doesn't think of your support as charity and neither do I. I see it as an investment. Besides my eternal gratitude and cool rewards, you'll also get updates about our progress, new recipes and first dibs on new products.

If you like this project, please forward this page onto friends, family or colleagues who you think might want to support it.

Risks and challenges

One of the biggest incentives to carry out this project is also one of the inherent challenges - my boys. If I'm all set to run a batch of mix and one of the boys gets sick, guess who's not going to be in the kitchen that day. Luckily, I have a great support system here in Nashville such as family, my MOMS club and church folks that are really excited to see me get this project off of the ground and are willing to step in and help out. Plus, I have the most amazingly supportive husband - did I mention he makes pancakes every Sunday?

After this project is funded, it will also be a challenge to decide exactly how to grow the company. Gluten free? Online sales? Other products? Rest assured - the guiding force behind these decisions will be what I feel is truly best for my family and community (kickstarter investors included.)

Pledge $50 or more

Two bags of Sunday Morning Pancake Mix (six cups each) and a personal thank you note. The second bag can be sent to a friend.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $250 or more

5 backers
Limited (15 left of 20)

One bag of Sunday Morning Pancake Mix (six cups) per month for a year, our limited edition Sawtooth Printhouse poster and a personal thank-you note. The 12 bags of mix can also be broken up and sent directly to your friends as gifts.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2013

Only ships to: United States

Funding period

May 8, 2013 - Jun 1, 2013
(23 days)

Eureka! You've found our little secret.

Sign up for our Happening email for all the inside info about arts and culture in the Kickstarter universe and beyond.